On Tuesday Winemag.co.za presented its inaugural Cape White Blend Report 2016 at Joostenberg Bistro, and announced that Lammershoek Terravinum Reserve White 2015 had achieved the highest score, at 95 points out of 100.
Tag Archives: Val du CHarron
Cape Winelands dominates 2015 Drinks International Wine Tourism Awards!
I had a lovely chat with South African Drinks International‘s Rick Beaumont earlier this week, about the devastating fires in Cape Town, and the latest results of the 2015 Drinks International Wine Tourism Awards, which had not yet been posted on their website.
The Cape Winelands dominated the Awards, winning four out of eight category Awards, against the UK, the USA, Spain, Italy, Greece, Argentina, Chile, and Portugal.
South Africa won: Continue reading →
WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 25 March
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The Cape Town International Jazz Festival blows its first notes from 17h00 tomorrow, with a free community concert on Greenmarket Square. Shakatak is the biggest name group, while Tasha’s World and Good Hope FM DJ Luwayne Wonder will also be seen on the stage. Burg and Longmarket Streets near Greenmarket Square will be closed all of tomorrow and part of Thursday. (received via media release from espAfrika)
* Durban’s ‘crime and grime’ deters tourism to the city, and could be the reason why the number of tourists to KwaZulu-Natal has declined for three years running, according to the province’s tour operators. The poor economic climate, the crime rate, the lack of unique tourist attractions, and the lack of cleanliness all put tourists off visiting. Durban’s head of tourism, Philip Sithole, disagrees, saying that the city’s tourism numbers are increasing, compared to the provincial decline! Passenger numbers at King Shaka International as well as road traffic arrivals have declined, but the tourist spend has increased. Tourists are said to fear walking on the Durban beachfront at night.
* The House of JC le Roux is pairing its three MCCs with home-made chocolate Easter eggs from 14 April onwards. Their Pinot Noir Rosé 2009 will be paired with a milk chocolate egg with a rose infused truffle filling; the La Vallée NV is paired with Belgian Continue reading →
WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 1/2 March
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The price of petrol increases by 36 cents a litre at midnight on 5 March.
* To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Amarula brand, Distell is launching a new spirit Amarula Gold this month. The new 30% spirit is described as ‘aromatic and vibrantly fruity with intriguingly spicy notes and a very smooth texture’.
* Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk is attending the second World Tourism Forum Lucerne Think Tank in Switzerland this weekend. This year the focus is on ‘Infrastructure and Investment’, with attention on financing tourism and travel infrastructure.
* The Franschhoek Literary Festival will be held between 16 and 18 May, and 170 authors will speak on various topics. Speakers include poets Adam Small and Breyten Breytenbach; heavy-weight writers Damon Galgut and Mark Gevisser; and controversial writers Andre Brink, Max du Preez, and Tim Noakes. Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Mpho, as well as former FNB MD and now Mxit Chairman Michael Jordaan will also participate in the pregramme.
* The 4000 strong penguin colony at Betty’s Bay is under threat from a diesel spill Continue reading →